Pasadena Planning Commission to Review Design Standards for High-Density Housing

The Pasadena Planning Commission is scheduled to review proposed objective design standards for high-density residential developments at its Wednesday, December 4 meeting, responding to state mandates while seeking to preserve the City’s architectural character.

The proposed zoning code amendments, developed in response to the 2019 Housing Crisis Act (Senate Bill 330) and changes in State Density Bonus law, would establish clear requirements for buildings with more than 48 dwelling units per acre. Under current state law, densities up to 87 units per acre plus density bonuses are permitted in many areas of Pasadena.

“The standards are intended to address the design and aesthetics of high-density development while accommodating legislative requirements,” according to the staff report from Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Community Development.

The City retained local architectural firm Moule & Polyzoides, known for their expertise in Pasadena’s neighborhoods and design guidelines, to help develop the standards. Key provisions include requiring buildings to have distinct base, middle, and top sections, prohibiting certain materials like vinyl siding and painted brick, and establishing different requirements for major corridors versus neighborhood streets.

For buildings on major corridors like Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, garage entrances must be recessed 12 inches, while those on neighborhood streets like Eureka Street require 24-inch recesses.

The standards also promote sustainability through requirements for shade structures, operable windows for ventilation, and incentives for rooftop gardens and vertical landscaping.

Larger developments face additional requirements. Sites between one and four acres must include at least two standalone buildings, while those over four acres must have three buildings separated by pedestrian pathways, landscaping, or streets. Special conditions apply near historic districts.

The proposals emerged from extensive community input, including:

• A March 2023 walking tour of 10 development sites
• Multiple study sessions throughout 2023 and 2024
• Reviews by both Planning and Design Commissions

If approved, staff will develop a supplementary guidebook with Moule & Polyzoides to assist developers in meeting the new standards.

The special meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at Pasadena City Hall. The public can attend in person, watch via livestream at www.pasadenamedia.org, or participate virtually. Speaker cards must be submitted one hour before the meeting at www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/public-comment. Written comments can be emailed to commentsPC@cityofpasadena.net.

Following the Planning Commission review, the amendments will proceed to the City Council for final consideration.